Trudy is joined by her friend Sandra Huculak for a conversation about the lessons she’s learned through health challenges, the importance of small conversations in her long career in communications and balancing an incredible career with raising a family. Sandra’s story, and the wisdom she gleans from it, make for a lively and inspiring conversation.

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• (03:22) - A globetrotting career
• (13:52) - Community banking and houselessness
• (21:00) - Breast cancer and working through chemo
• (26:18) - Fear of falling
• (37:13) - Wisdom, aging and moving forward

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

This week, Trudy is joined by her friend Jane Bisbee to continue a conversation which began in 2024 with episode 12, Stuff of Life — Part 2. Jane returns to CroneCast to reflect on how her relationship to things has changed, the value of time and how a crone’s experience of both time and objects shifts throughout this third trimester of life.

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• (02:22) - Re‑introducing Jane & life in retirement
• (14:29) - Downsizing, priorities, and what we truly value
• (22:37) - Mortality, intentionality and using our time well
• (29:19) - Letting go of household “shoulds”
• (39:02) - The tyranny of the to‑do list
• (47:04) - The gift of time

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

This week, while Lisa is healing and Trudy says goodbye to a beloved pet, we thought it was a good time to re-release this December 2024 episode with Dr. Denise Larsen about her research into hope. We’ll be back in two weeks with a new episode.

If you asked 10 people to define what hope is, you’d probably get 10 different definitions. We think we know what hope is, but do we really? Is hoping for something unrealistic? Are wishing and hoping the same thing? Can you manifest something into being through hope? These are just some of the questions Trudy and Lisa pose to University of Alberta Faculty of Education Associate Dean (Research) and professor Dr. Denise Larsen about her research into hope. Even if you’re not a naturally hopeful person, Dr. Larsen tells us how we can build “hope skills” and how fostering hope in ourselves and others can change people, cities and communities for the better.

Note: Dr. Larsen mentions an intervention activity conducted with international students. That activity was developed by University of Alberta Ph.D. candidate Chelsea Hobbs. Dr. Larsen also wished to acknowledge Dr. Doris Zhang.

“Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.” - David Orr

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• (04:36) - Intro
• (06:10) - What Is Hope?
• (10:12) - Hope and Reality Co-exist
• (12:13) - Hope is Risky
• (18:39) - Fostering Hope
• (21:31) - Leaning Into Possibility
• (28:04) - Hope in Hard Times
• (31:59) - Other-oriented Hope
• (41:19) - Hope Across Cultures

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

In this episode, Trudy is joined by writer, editor and director Helen Metella to continue the conversation about caring for a loved one with dementia, offering practical insights for caregivers. The conversation covers the nitty gritty details — like paperwork — and creating moments of laughter and delight.

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• (00:34) - Continuing the caregiving conversation
• (08:59) - What if survival isn’t the goal?
• (16:28) - Time to declutter
• (26:31) - Building moments for joy and connection
• (36:17) - Look after your caregivers, too

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

Trudy is joined by writer, editor and director Helen Metella for a conversation about dementia, caretaking and the roles women play. Trudy and Helen speak candidly about their own experiences caring for mothers with dementia — the strange, the funny and the challenging.

Helen Metella’s book Marika and the Auction will be published in April 2026.

• (00:32) - Introducing Helen Metella
• (20:52) - The lessons of dementia
• (28:22) - Finding laughter
• (37:40) - There is joy
• (43:58) - Learning about yourself
• (49:17) - Marika and the Auction

Share your questions and comments at cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Credits--

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

It's been six weeks since Lisa's breast cancer diagnosis. In this episode, she and Trudy spend time talking about how the experience of living with cancer is an excellent teacher. Lisa explains how her perspective on life is being shaped and re-shaped every day. Trudy asks about the role her positive attitude plays as she moves toward surgery and treatment. It's an episode about gratitude, attitude, and platitudes.

• (05:40) - Bad things are good teachers
• (10:23) - Perspective is everything
• (17:57) - Things just happen
• (24:18) - The attitude factor
• (33:15) - Life is a thread
• (36:04) - Everyday joy

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We are joined once again by honorary crone Janelle Drisner for a challenging and illuminating conversation. We break down everything from divorce to the concept of personal death awareness to regret — and what valuable teachers these experiences can be.

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• (00:56) - Welcoming Janelle Drisner back to the show
• (13:03) - Post-divorce journeys
• (19:00) - Death illuminates life
• (27:12) - Rejecting mediocrity
• (35:16) - Is that all there is?
• (42:06) - Turning toward joy

--Credits--

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

Lisa shares her recent breast cancer diagnosis, her prognosis and the way cancer is shifting her perspective. Lisa and Trudy reflect how illness can change relationships, the way we view the world, and our ability to appreciate the beauty of everyday life.

Read our blog at CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

• (00:00) - Lisa is transparent about her diagnosis
• (04:47) - Spiky words & shattered invincibility
• (10:31) - Sifting
• (20:58) - Navigation

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen